Conveying and loading device



Feb. 2l, 1933. F. J. DlETz CONVEYING AND LOADING DEVICE Filed July 17,1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 21, 1933. F. .1. DsErz CONVEYING AND LOADINGDEVICE Filed Julyl'?, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 2l, 1933. F [HET-21,898,037

- CONVEYING AND LOADING DEVICE Filed July 17. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I Il l I 90]/ /3=o\ I Patented Feb. 21, 1933 I 1,898,037

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE FRANK J'. DIETZ, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND,ASSIGNOB. TO ALVEY IANUFACTUBING COMPANY, OF 8T. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ACORPORATION OF MISSOURI CONVEYING Andnoanme nevica Application med July17, 1930. Serial No. 488,507.

My invention relates to a type of loading rail 11 running parallel tothe rail 8 is device wherein articles riding on a moving mounted onfloor 12 a suitable distance from conveyor may be automaticallydeiiected thefront of said conveyor. therefrom, and delivered to a car;and the In general the deiiecting device has three principal object ofthis invention is to prooperating units driven by electric motors; 55

vide means for accomplishing the same at one motor 13 for shifting saiddevice to a any point or points along said conveyor. proper point orpoints along said conveyor, Another object is to automatically deliveranother one 14 for deiecting cases from the articles to a car in anupended position. said conveyor, and a third motor 15 for My inventionconsists in an electrically lowering cases into cars and upending them.60

controlled deiiecting and loading device The action of motors 14 and 15are concapable of being moved to any position trolled by a number oflimit switches so aralong'a moving conveyor, said device being ranged,adapted and constructed as to be so arranged and constructed withreferences automatically actuated by cases being fed to,

to cases riding on said conveyor as to be and deflected by, vsaiddevice. Assuming 65 automatically actuated thereby. It also conthedevice has been properly positioned in sists in the parts, combinationsand arrangerelation to a railroad car, a case upon reachments of partshereinafter described and i I1g the center of said device depresses aclaimed, limit swltch, whereby a kick-off mechanism In the accompanyingdrawings wherein driven by the motor 14 shoves the case at 70 likereference numerals refer to like parts Ilght anglesto the conveyor ontoa tilting wherever they occur: table 16 adapted to receive the same. An-

Fig. 1 is a front view of a loading device other limit switch thenautomatically enerembodying my invention, v gizes the motor 15 and saidtilting table is Fig. 2 is a forward side view of the loadtilted to avertical position (shown by dotted 75 ing device, lines in Fig. 3) bymeans of quarter cir- Fig. 3 is a rear side View thereof, 0111211' gearSegments 17 engaging pinions 18 Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram, andoperatively connected to the motor- 15. The Fig. 5 is 'a detail view ofone of the case will then be in an upended position and Switches, thedevice is of such a height in relation to 80 This invention isparticularly adapted to the railroad car that in this position the beused in conjunction with an apron con bottom of said case will beadjacent to, and veyor or beltconveyor running parallel toa at the samelevel as that of the car iioor, so railroad track wherein freight carsstanding that the case may be readily moved into the on said track maybe automatically and car. An operator, after positioning the case 85quickly loaded. In the construction illusin said car, then operates aswitch whereby trated. the conveyor comprises top and botthe table israised to its horizontal position, tom side frames 1 supported bysuitable upand said device is ready for loading another right members 2braced by diagonal braces 3 case, and the above sequence of operationsand continuous chains 4 provided with small is repeated. 90

rollers 5 for engaging said side frames. The framework of the devicecomprises Said conveyor is driven by a suitable electric two frontupright members 19 and two rear motor 6, and the carrying surface of theconones 20, the bottom .of said front members veyor comprises rollers 7rotatably mounted 19 being provided with flanged wheels 21 on lateralshafts extending between the for engaging the rail 11 in front of thecon- 95 chains at regular intervals. A rail 8 for veyor, whereas therear upright members carrying the deiiectingdevice is mounted areprovided with wheels 22 for running near wall 9 on suitable cross braces10 seon the rail 8 mounted in the rear of the concured to each set ofuprights 2, just beneath Veyor framework. The upright members the lowerbed of rollers; whereas another are held together as a framework at thebot-A 100 tom by means of a horizontal brace 23, whereas said members,which extend far enough above the conveyor belt to provide head room forthe kick-ofi1 mechanism are held together at the top by horizontalmembers 24. A similar set of horizontal members 25 are located below thetop set and help to hold the frame together.

Two vertical channels 26 secured to the top front horizontal bracesextend above the top braces and support two horizontal channels 27 whichextend toward the rear of the framework and are preferably bracketed byplates 28. Mounted near the end of said members on the underside is aplate 29 upon which the end of a lever 30 is fulcrumed. Two channelshaped members 31 are mounted on one side of said lever and extendbetween the rear and front horizontal top braces, and a base plate 32 isprovided on said members for the motor 14 which drives a crank 33through a standard type of worm gear speed reducer 34. A pitman 35connects said crank and the lever 30 whereby said lever will oscillatebetween the position shown in the drawings in full lines and theposition shown in dotted lines (see Fig. 2). The lower movable end oflever 30 is secured to a second connecting member 36 secured to a block37 slidable in guide members 38 mounted on the front and rear topbraces. Extending downward in the rear of said sliding block are twoshafts 39 each having a roller 40 slidably mounted thereon and alsorotatable thereon for engaging and shoving a case off the conveyor.Secured to the lower ends of each shaft 39 is a cross member 41 toprevent a case from turning around in case it should be shoved by onlyone of the rollers 40.

Preferably, two vertical angles 42 located near the front uprightmembers on each side of the device, extend between the upper and lowercross braces and a horizontal angle 43 is secured to said angles aslightdistance below the top of the conveyor and constitutes an abutment forthe tiltin table on reaching its horizontal position. ocated directlybeneath said angle on each side and secured to the front upright guidemembers are two angles 44 extending from the side of the conveyorframework to a slight distance in front of the front upright inembers. Asuitable roller 45 mounted on supports 46 secured to said angles 44,constitutes a guide for cases being shoved olf the conveyor and onto thetilting table and two brackets 47 are provided on the top of said angles44 and a shaft 48 is mounted on said brackets. Mounted near the end ofsaid shaft, and rotatable therewith, are two side members 49 which formthe edges of the tilting table, and the end of said tilting tablecarries a movable section 50y that may be folded back to clear any carsthat might be standing on the track when the loading device is movedfrom one point to another. Said table, together with the movable endsection is provided with suitable rollers 51 to permit cases to beshoved upon said table and easily removed onto the car floor. Alsomounted on said shaft 48 near each end and at the center and rotatabletherewith, are the quarter circular gear segments 17 that engage saidpinion ears 18 mounted on a lower shaft 52, said lower shaft beingmounted on brackets 43 provided on the front upright members. The motor15, through a suitable worm gear speed reducer 54, drives said pinionshaft and constitutes the means for operating the tilting table. Saidmotor 15 and speed reducer 54 are mounted on a suitable platform 55 onthe left side of the deflecting device, said platform comprising a plate56 of metal or the like mounted upon two horizontal angles 57 secured tothe upright frame members. Just below said angles and on the right handside is another platform 58 mounted on horizontal brackets 59 secured tothe front framework which carries the motor 13 for driving, through asuitable gear speed reducer 60, a pinion gear 61 which engages a rackgear 62 secured to, and extending the length of the conveyor framework,and constitutes the means for drivin the device along said conveyor.Mounted etween the roller 45 and the edge of the conveyor framework, onthe angles supporting the tilting table shaft, is a horizontal member 63eX- tending lon itudinally with the conveyor and is provided with anumber of limit switches (hereinafter described). Mounted above the rackgear 62 and extending longitudinally of the conveyor are two sets ofcontact rails; one set 64 which supplies current to the device andtermed the service contact rails, and the other set 65 (hereinaftertermed the interlock rails) for interconnecting and controlling theconveyor motor 6 and the kickoffl motor 14.

The left hand front upright members have mounted thereon a suitablepaneling 66 which constitutes a base for emergency control buttonsoperating the three motors. Having thus described the framework, acomplete detail operation of the device will follow which will give thelocation, and describe the construction of the different limit switches;and for the purpose of clarifying the description said limit switcheswill be designated as S1, S2, etc.

While the device may be constructed to deflect one or several variedsizes of cases, the one illustrated in the drawings is designed tohandle three different sizes. As each size of case is of a differentlength and all cases must be diverted from the apron at the center ofthe loading device, a s ecial electric contacting device 67 is usedhereinafter termed the selector). Said selector 67 comprises threestationary contacts 68, arranged one above the other, and a movablecontact member 68a slidable over the stationary contacts. The movablecontact member is operated by an arm 69 located with reference to casesriding on the oo nveyor so as to be engaged thereby. The arm 69 isconnected to the movable contact member by suitable connecting members70 and 71 in such a manner that the movable contact member will be movedupwardly to contact with a particular stationary contact depending onthe height of the particular case engaging the arm 69. Each of thecontacts is connected in series to a respective limit switch, all ofwhich are mounted on'the cross angle 63 and set to start the kick-oft`device at the proper time for each size of oase.

A case to be deflected upon reaching said device, depresses the limitswitch S1 of standard design, and normally closed and mounted on thecross angle 63. This switch is connected in parallel with limit switchS2. The switch S2 is mounted below the tilting table and is normallyclosed when the tilting table is in position to receive a case, and soarranged that the circuit will open when the tilting table has Startedto descend. Since both switches are connected in parallel with the motordriving the apron, when the tilting table is down and a case hasdepressed limit switch Sl, the apron will stop running. Thus if' a caseshould reach the dellecting device at a time when the tilting table isnot in a position to receive the same, upon depressing the limit switchSl, said case will automatically cause the roller bed apron to ceasemoving until the tilting table has arrived to its normal receivingposition and closed switch S2. li a case is to be passed through saiddevice and not deliected therefrom, a double throw switch 72 located onthe emergency control panel may be operated by a press button, theaction of said switch, which is connected in parallel with the kick-odlimit switches Sl and S2 ley-passing the apron motor control circuit andopening the kickod' mechanism circuit and the case will not dect thekick-od mechanism and pass theressuming that the case is to be divertedthree last mentioned limit switches and in this'connec'tion" that theplunger arms 75 o each switch are brought back to their normal positionby a spring which is rovided in each standard limit switch. Pre erably aset screw 76 is provided at the bottom of each arm 73 for adjusting eachswitch.

When the case has set the selector, it passes on until it reaches thecenter of the loading device depressing either limit switch S3, S4 or S5depending on the size of the case, and the kick-oil motor is energizedwhereby the case is shoved onto the tiltin table. However, as soon asthe kick-og mechanism is started on its outward stroke,

the apron. and blocking the passage of the limit switch S6, located uponthe rear frame- .90

next case. Said switch S6 is operated by an arm 77 which engages a lug78 on the sliding block 37. Preferably the starter for the kick-od motoris provided with a brake to prevent drifting of the kick-olf mechanismafter the limit switch opens at the end of the returning stroke.

When the arms have reached the end of the outward stroke and the case ispositioned on the tilting table, limit switch S9, positioned on thekiclnof lever support, is closed by the action of the kick-oil leverstriking an actuating lever l79 extending from said switch and S9 isclosed by the kick-oli lever and the motor starts to operate the tiltingtable on its downward movement. Said case is then lowered and upended(shown by dotted lines) whereby an operator may easily place the same inthe car.

Upon the closing of switch S9 said table lowers until it opens switch S8by the action of a lug 8O on the end of the tilting table striking theactuating lever of said switch, and the motor l5 is thereby stopped. Thetable is then raised by pressing a start button 8l, hung ona cableinside the car, said start button being the only button normally handledby the operator and so planned in order to avoid an accident as theoperator will be responsible for sulicient clearance for table movement.Should there be an obstruction, the table is preferably sto ped duringany portion of the movement y a stop button 82 located on the emergencycontrol anel.

Wiien the roller apron is stopped by the normal action of a case, it ispossible that a following case, might be crowded into the loadingmachine which would start the kickoff mechanism and create a dangerouscondition. To prevent this limit switch S10, which is normally closedand located on the front framework will open the circuit of the kick-offmechanism, when the kick-oif mechanism has completed its operatingcycle, said switch S10 being operated by one of the gear segments 1engaging its actuating lever. Switch S10-is closed again when tiltingtable ascends to its up or receiving position.

In order to open the tilting table motor circuit, when the tilting tablearrives at its receiving position, limit switch S7 mounted on the angleM is actuated by the side frame of said tilting table.

Referring to the diagrammatic wiring system, power lines L1 and L2 areconnected to the ends of the service contact rails 64 and also to acontrol box 83 for the conveyor motor 6 which is located at the forwardend of the conveyor frame work. The switch terminals of said box areconnected to the ends of the interlocked contactrails which run parallelwith the service rails along the conveyor frame work.

The three motors mounted on the loading device (shown by dotted lines)are all supplied with current from two main leads 84 extending from theframe work of the device and are provided with brushes 85 for contactwith the service rails 64:. A control box 86, which is of standarddesign and provided with a dynamic brake relay, for the kick-oli' motor14 contains in its controlling circuit the three limit switches S3, S4and S5 (all normally open) each of which is connected in series with itscooperating selector contact point 68, whereas the three switches andthe corresponding selector contacts themselves, are connected inparallel, Whereby any ofthe switches will close that p0rtion of thecircuit independently of any other. Also connected in parallel with theabove mentioned switches is the limit switch S6 (normally closed) whichis operated by the kick-off lever and which will also close the circuitindependently of the others, to complete the kick-off cycle.

For emergency purposes, a standard push button station 87 provided witha start and stop button is inserted in the circuit between thepreviously mentioned switches and the control box, and connected inseries therewith is the limit switch S10 (normally closed) for openingthe kick-off circuit when the kick-off mechanism has comglleted itsoperating cycle, and the double t row switch 72 for by-passi-ng a casethroughthe machine. Said switch 72 is connected in the conveyor motorcircuit in parallel with the limit switch S1 (normally closed) and thelimit switch S2 (normally opened), and said circuit controls the aprondrive motor 6 through brushes 88 engaging the interlocked rails 65. Thedouble throw switch 72 is so constructed and arranged so as to close onecircuit and open the other, and it is obvious that by closing theconveyor motor circuit, the kick-off motor will cease running and theapron conveyor will carry a case on through the loading device, withoutdeflecting 1t.

Preferably, the control boxes 89 and 90 which are of standard design forboth the motor 13 and the tilting table motor 15 are supplied withcurrent through wires connected to the main leads. Operated andconnected to both control boxes 89 and 90 are standard push buttonstations 91 having buttons for starting, stopping and reversing themotors. Hooked up respectively with the starting, stopping, andreversing buttons of the motor 15 are the limit switches S7, (normallyclosed) for completing the upward movement lof the tilting table, S8(normally closed) for completing the downward movement of the table andS9 (normally o ened) to start the downward movement o said table.

What I claim is:

1. A conveying and loading device comprising a conveyor, a frameworkassociated therewith, means for moving said framework along saidconveyor, shifting means provided on said framework for shifting anarticle from said conveyor, a tilting platform adapted to receive anarticle shifted from said conveyor, and means under the control of saidshifting means for tilting said platform.

2. A conveying and loading device comprising a conveyor, a frameworkassociated therewith, a mechanism mounted on said framework for shiftingan article off of said conveyor, power means under the control of anarticle for operating said mechanism, a tilting table in position toreceive an article shifted from said conveyor, and means under thecontrol of said mechanism for tilting said table.

3. A conveying and loading device comprising a conveyor, a frameworkassociated therewith, movable arms mountedon said framework andpositioned in relation to articles riding on said conveyor for shovingarticles ofi' of said conveyor, a motor operatively connected to saidarms, a tilting table normally in horizontal position for receiving anarticle shoved from said conveyor, and a second motor under the controlof the other motor for tilting said table wherepzly the center ofgravity of said article' is anged to a different level.

4. A conveying and loading device comprising a conveyor, a frameworkassociated therewith movable arms mounted on said framework andpositioned in relation to articles riding on said conveyor for shovingarticles olf of said conveyor while said conveyor is in motion, a motorunder the control of an article on said conveyor for operating saidarms, a tilting table normally in horizontal position for receiving anarticle shoved from said conveyor, and a second motor under the controlof the other motor for moving the titling table to a vertical positionwhereby said article is lowered and u ended. v A

5. conveying and loading device comprising a conveyor, a frameworkstraddling said conveyor, a rack gear mounted along said conveyor, apinion gear engaging said rack gear, a motor mounted on said rameworkand operatively connected with said pinion gear, means provided on saidframework for shifting an article from said conveyor, a tilting tableadapted to receive an article shifted therefrom, and means under thecontrol of said shiftmg means for tilt` ing said table.

6. A conveying and loading device comprising a conveyor, a frameworkassociated therewith, shifting means provided lon said framework forshifting an article from said conveyor, selective control meansresponsive only to articles of different sizes, respectively, forcontrolling said shifting means, a tilting table adapted to receive anarticle shifted therefrom, and means under the control of said shiftingmeans for tilt- -ing said table. i

'l'. A conveying and loading device comprising a conveyor, a frameworkassociated therewith, means provided on said framework for shifting anarticle from said conveyor, a shaft mounted on said framework, aplatform adapted to receive an article shifted from said conveyorpivoted on said shaft, gear segments rigidly mounted on said shaft, asecond shaft mounted on said framework, pinions mounted on said shaftengaging the gear segments and a motor operatively connected with saidshaft, said motor being automatically started by said shifting means. i

A conveying and loading device comprising a conveyor, a motoroperatively connected with said conveyor for operating the same, aframework associated with said conveyor, means provided on saidframework for shifting an article from said conveyor, a tilting tableadapted to receive an article shifted therefrom, means for tilting saidtable, and means under the conjoint control of said tilting means and anarticle riding on said conveyor for controlling said motor.

A conveying and loading device comprismg a conveyor, a.- motoroperatively connected with said conveyor for operating the same, aframework associated with said conveyor, m eans provided on saidframework forshlfting an article from said conveyor, a tllting tableadapted to receive an article vshifted therefrom, means for tilting saidtable, means for controlling said motor comprising a limit switch inposition to be actuated by a case riding on said conveyor, a secondlimit switch in position to be actuated by said tilting table, saidlimit switches being connected in parallel with the motor operating theconveyor.

A conveying and loading device comprising a conveyor, a frameworkassociated' therewith, shifting means provided on said framework forshifting an article from said conveyor, a motor for operating saidshifting means and having a control circuit, a platform adapted toreceive an article shifted therefrom, means for tilting said platform,and means controlling said motor comprising a limit switch in positionto be actuated by articles riding on said conveyorl inserted in thecontrol circuit for starting said motor, a second limit switch connectedin parallel with the first mentionedlimit switch and actuated by saidshifting means for keeping said motor running, and a third limit switchcoimected in series between the other switches and the motor for openingthe control circuit when the tilting platform is not in position toreceive an article, said limit switch being actuated by said tiltingplatform.

ll. A conveying and loading device com-` prising a conveyor, a frameworkassociated therewith, shifting means provided on said framework forshifting an article from said conveyor, a motor for operating saidshifting means and having a control circuit, a platform adapted toreceive an article shoved therefrom, means for tilting said platform,and means controlling said motor comprising an arm for bridging a4plurality of gaps in the control circuit of said motor, each gap beingarranged in series with a limit switch for selecting the same, said armand said limit switches being in position to be actuated by articlesriding on said con veyor, another limit switch connected in parallelwith the first mentioned limit switches between them and the motor andactuated by said shifting means for keeping said motor running andanother limit switch connected in series between the other switches andthe motor for opening the control circuit when the tilting platform isnot in position to receive an article, said limit switch being actuatedby said tilting platform.

l2. A conveying and loading device comprising a conveyor, a frameworkassociated therewith, means provided on said framework for shoving anarticle off of said conveyor, a tilting table adapted to receive anarticle shoved therefrom, means for tilting said table, means forcontrolling said tilting means comprising-a limit switch operated bysaid shifting means for lstarting the downward movement of said table, asecond limit switch operated by said tilting means for stopping thedownward movement of said tilting table, a third limit switch operatedby said tilting means for stopping the upward movement of said tiltingtable, and a press-button switch manually operated for starting saidtilting table on its upward movement.

13. A conveying and loading device comprising a conveyor, means foroperating said conveyor, a framework which is movable along saidconveyor, means provided on said framework for shifting an articletherefrom, a tilting table adapted to receive an article shiftedtherefrom, means for tilting said table, contact rails operativelyconnected to said conveyor operating means and extending along saidconveyor, and means provided on said movable framework and connected tosaid contact rails for controlling said conveyor operating means. 4

14. In a conveying and loading system, a conveyor, a motor for drivingsaid conveyor, a control box for controlling said motor, a frameworkassociated with said conveyor, means on said framework for shifting anarticle from said conveyor, a second motor for operating said shiftingmeans, a circuit containing a second control box for controlling saidsecond motor, means for receiving an article shifted ,from saidconveyor, a limit switch actuated by an article on said conveyor andconnected to the control terminals of the first controlpbox, a secondlimit switch actuated by said receiving means and' connected in parallelwith said first mentioned switch, a manually operated double throwswitch having one set of its terminals connected in parallel with saidlimit switches and its other set of terminals connected in the circuitcontaining the second control box, a plurality of limit switches in saidcircuit and actuated by articles on said-conveyor, a device actuated byarticles on said conveyor for selecting one of said plurality ofswitches, said device being connected in said circuit in series withsaid plurality of switches, another limit switch actuated by saidshifting means and connected in said circuit in parallel with theplurality of limit switches between them and said second control boX,and another limit switch actuated by said receiving means and connectedin said circuit in series with the terminals of the double throw switch,said double throw switch being located in said circuit between heselecting device and the second control ox. y

15. A conveying and loading device comprising a conveyor, a frame workassociated therewith, shifting means movable across said frame work andoperatin on a forward and return stroke for shi ting an article fromsaid conveyor and means controlling,said shifting means comprisingalimit switch in position to be actuated by an article riding on saidconveyor and a second limit switch connected in parallel with said firstmentioned limit switch in position to be closed at the start of theforward stroke of said movable means and opened at the end of the returnstroke thereo 16. A conveying and loading device comprising a conveyor,a frame work associated therewith, shifting means provided on said framework, a plurality of limit switches located along said frame work foractuating said shifting means, each of said limit switches being inposition to be actuated by articles riding on said conveyor and meansprovided on said frame work and actuated by an article on said conveyorbefore reaching said limit switches for selecting a particular limitswitch depending upon the size of said article.

17. A conveying and loading device comprising a conveyor, a frame workassociated therewith, shifting means provided on said frame work forshifting an article from said conveyor, a motor for operating saidshifting means and having a control circuit, means controlling saidmotor comprising limit switches, an arm for bridging a plurality of gapsin the control circuit of said motor, each gap being arranged in serieswith a limit switch for selecting the same, and said arm and said limitswitches being in position to be actuated by articles riding on saidconveyor.

Signed at Brooklyn, N. Y., this 8th day of July, i930.

FRANK J. DIETZ.

